Hobbyhorse



v 5%., 20, 1948. R. T. ATHEY 783 HOBBYHORSE Filed June 7, 1944 *2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor" liosfer 'THTHEY,

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Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT o-Frice HOBBYHORSE Robert T.- Athey, Armona, Calif.

Application June'i, 1944, Serial No.'539,'081

4 Claims. (01. 272-52) This invention relates to figure toys and'has 'more specific reference to the style generally referred to in the tradezas hobbyhorses and the like.

I'amnot unmindful that hobbyhorses similar to those whichI am about-to disclose'and'describe are 'n ot new. In fact, I am familiar with the patent to S. 'JICattelin et al., No. 1,668,190, another patent toS. N. Holman No. 2,129,176, and analogous patents in thesamefield of invention. -Keeping-this in mind, it will be evident that my primary aimis to structurally, functionallyand otherwise improve upon hobbyhorses of the aforementioned patented-and similar marketedtypes and forms.

Briefly, novelty is predicated on a hobbyhorse I characterized by transverseparallel base blocks with a iiat spring 'therebetween, a superposed seat-equipped occupant accommodating and exercising spring; and a new and novel block connection between adjacent ends of the springs, the block being characterized by unusual shape to provide desired balance and flexibility in its pe- *culiar coaction with the'complemental springs.

tudinal alignment with the block on which it is anchored andfulcrumed.

Novelty is also predicated upon the mannerin which a seat provided with a horse's head is'attache'dto the freeendofthe bouncing or exercising'spring, the horses head being bracketedin a keeper groove .for promotion and strength and durability.

It is believed too, that the provision .of an ornamental or figure toy seat ofthe aforementioned type which is adjustably mounted on the bouncing spring is a feature of moment.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout'the same- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toy hobbyhorse constructedin accordance with the structural principles of the instant invention.

Figure 2 isa top pian'view thereof.

.Figure '3' is an enlarged transverse verticalsection on the plane of the line 3--3 of Figure. 1.

Figures 4 and dare cross-sectionson the lines -'4---4'an"d 5 5, respectively, OfFigure 1 looking in the direction ofthe "arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged'fragmentary detail section on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fi ure l.

"Figure Tie-a perspectiveview ofthe specially designed assembling, spacing and spring-bending and fulcruming block.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numeralsitwill be seen that the horizontal flat spring 8 has its end portions seated in notches and secured by fastenings 9 to the blocks ill. The superposed "coacting exercising orbouncingspring,which is also a flat spring of appropriate dimensions and strength, is denoted by the numeral ll.

Importance is attached to the manner of securing the-springs andassociating the same in companion relationship. As

before pointed out, thisis accomplished through the medium of anespecially designed or fashioned anchoring and assemblingblock l2. shown in Fig. 7, the mainbottomis plain and rectilinearly straightas indicated at I 3. Oneendis' reduced and flattened on its top as indicated'at M. The top'surface I5 is parallel to the surface 13 and joins the reduced end portion by way of an inclineor declivity 16. The end,'which' may be identified as the inner end, is rounded toassume'an 'arcuate formation asindicated 'at IT. This constitutes a rocker and its cam action exerts a downwar'd'pressure on the underlying spring 8, thus bowing or fiexingsaid spring downwardly. The block as-a unit is bolted or otherwise securedintermrdiate its endto the spring 8as indicated at I8. The laterallyidirected "end' I 9 of the spring H rests uponthestep M where it'is fastened thereto ."as "at Zil. This fastening passes through'theistep Handspring 8 and'into the block l0. The adjacent portion of the spring l'l rests upon the "declivity'as indicated at 2i. At the point where'it'projectsbeyond said declivity and over and beyond the fiat surface l'5 it is "assembled by a clevis 22 fastened as at 23. The clevis is sufficiently large to straddle over the spring. In other words, the bight portion thereof is spaced from the spring and the clevis is somewhat diagonally disposed, being at right angles to the spring II. This clevis serves to allow the spring I I to play and "float, as it were. At the same time the clevis snugly keeps the spring H in alignment with the block, that is,

the spacer block I2.

I next call attention to the seat board 24 of general-rectangular form, this having a channel or groove in its bottom as at 25 (see Figure 4). Cross-straps 26 suitably fasten to the board to bridge the channel and serve to hold the spring H therein. At the same time, this assemblage may be such as to permit the board to be shifted up and down in relation to the spring, that is, longitudinally adjusted. It will be seen in Figure 1 that two of such fastenings 26 are provided. The horses head 21 has its lower end seated in an accommodation or adapter channel 28 (see Figure 6) which is provided therefor in the top or median portion of the seat board 24. Pairs of L-shaped brackets 29 on opposite sides serve to assemble and secure the parts 24 and 21 together in firm and reliable relationship.

The numeral 30 designates a foot-piece held in place by an adjusting and clamping bracket 31 and the numeral 21a designates handle bars carried by the horses head. The entire unit comprising the horses head and seat board can be adjusted, and the foot-piece can also be adjusted in respect thereto. Therefore, all of the parts have been very carefully chosen and structurally coordinated to provide an overall structure which is aptly fitted for the intended purposes.

As an optional phase of the invention I now direct attention to an auxiliary spring (see Figures 1 and 2) denoted, as a unit by the numeral 32, This underlies the main spring II as at 33 and is of any appropriate length. It is provided centrally with a cross piece 34 carrying a clevis 35 which saddles over said spring I I. It is also provided at opposite ends with upstanding laterally directed retention lugs 36 which keep it in proper alignment. This spring unit 32 is adjusted. up or down on the spring H to strengthen the same at the desired points, whereby to thus increase the utility of the device.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1, A hobbyhorse of the class described comprising a horizontally elongated base, a rectilinearly straight and flat exercising spring, a seat-board mounted on one end of said spring, a spacing block secured to one end of said base, said spacing block having its outer end formed into a reduced step, its inner under-face formed into a curvate rocker. and its intermediate Dortion formed into a declivity merging into said reduced step, the adjacent end of said exercising spring being secured to said on said declivity,

step and resting 2. As a new article of manufacture and as a component part of a hobbyhorse construction of the class described, an especially designed and fashioned anchoring and assembling block for an exercising spring, said block being adapted to be interposed between one end of the exercising spring and an underlying horizontally elongated base, said block comprising a substantially rectangular body, the main portion of the bottom of said block being rectilinearly straight, one end being reduced in cross-section and flattened on the top, this being parallel to said rectilinearly straight bottom and constituting a step, the op posite end of the top portion of said block being fiat and parallel to said rectilinearly straight bottom, the intermediate portion of the top of said block being inclined rearwardly and outwardly and merging into said step, the frontal end portion of said block being rounded into arcuate form and constituting a rocker.

3. In a hobbyhorse of the class described, a horizontally elongated relativel fixed base, a spacing block superimposed on and secured to one end portion of said base, a rectilinear leaf spring secured at one end to said block, the opposite end overlying the base, a seat secured to said last-named end, and an adjustable, longitudinally shiftable spring-strengthening attachment, said attachment being an independent unit and comprising an auxiliary longitudinally elongated flat spring, this underlying the intermediate portion of said leaf spring and being considerably shorter than said leaf spring and havin outstanding opposed pairs of detents at opposite ends, said detents resting against and embracing the longitudinal edge portions of said first-named spring, and a clevis carried by said auxiliary spring and saddiing over said firstnamed spring, whereby to permit the auxiliary spring to be adjusted longitudinally in relation to the other spring to stiffen same wherever necessary or desired.

1. The structure specified in claim 1, said base embodying an elongated horizontally disposed flat spring, and risers attached to opposite end portions of said spring.

ROBERT T. ATHEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 1 Date 2,129,176 Holman Sept. 6, 1938 2,255,160 Gordon Sept. 9, 1941 2,344,607 Gosswein et a1 Mar. 21, 1944 1,552,841 Hector Sept. 8, 1925 100,083 Stephen Feb, 22, 1870 1,624,986 Sherrod Apr. 9, 1927 1,997,461 Gulden Apr, 9, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 379,069 Italy Mar, 9, 1940 

